New international appointments and bursaries for DCU Institute of Education
New international appointments and bursaries for DCU Institute of Education

New international appointments and bursaries for DCU Institute of Education

DCU’s Institute of Education announces six new PhD bursaries to mark the election of Institute staff to lead the most influential organisations in educational research in Ireland and beyond.

Dr Bernadette Dwyer has just been elected vice-president of the International Literacy Association (ILA), taking on the Presidency next year.  The ILA is one of the world’s foremost education research organisations and the most significant in the field of literacy.  She is the first Irish person to be elected to lead this US based organisation in its 60-year history.  Bernadette is a member of the School of Language Literacy and Early Childhood Education at DCU and her research focuses on multimodal and digital literacy and reading comprehension.

Dr Enda Donlon is the Vice President of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI), and will assume the Presidency next year.  ESAI is a voluntary association dedicated to the advancement of educational research in Ireland.  Enda is a member of the School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies and his teaching and research interests include the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning, teacher education, and where these areas intersect.

Professor Joe O’Hara has recently been announced as the President elect of the European Research Association.  EERA is a Europe-wide network of educational associations comprising more than 40 regional and national associations from 35 different countries.  Joe is a member of the School of Policy and Practice and the Director of the Centre for Evaluation Quality and Inspection.  His research interests include polycentric inspection and the impact of school self-evaluation.

In announcing the bursary programme, Dr Anne Looney, Executive Dean of the Institute said,

“DCU’s Institute of Education was established in 2016 as Ireland’s first university faculty of education with the explicit purpose of offering research-led initial teacher education, and supporting research that could influence policy and practice in Ireland and beyond.  We are proud that as we embark on our second year, three of our colleagues are being recognised as national and global leaders in education research.  Our new Institute of Education PhD bursary programme will allow six education professionals the chance to join these world-class researchers and their colleagues in the Institute’s schools and centres next year.”

The recipients will be eligible for part-time PhD studies with fees waived for the five years of their studies.  Details of how to apply can be found at www4.dcu.ie/ioe/phd-bursary.